Posted on 07/26/2017 2:44:23 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
HOUSTON, Texas. - While he was mowing lawns and handing out business cards, a black teen said that he was harassed by a Harris County Precinct 1 police officer.
The teen, identified as 19-year-old Marvin Gibson, captured the incident on video.
The video shows the officer asking Gibson for his identification and an explanation of why he is going door to door. The teen provides his business card and explains that he is giving out his cards to promote a lawn care service.
The officer asked him for his name and date of birth. The young man provided this information but then asked the officer why he is asking him about his personal information.
The officer responded, “I’m investigating what you are doing.”
Gibson is confused by that response since he has already explained that he is providing business cards for a lawn care service.
Seemingly frustrated about being questioned, the officer told the teen that, regardless, he is supposed to provide identification anytime an officer asks for it.
Gibson then asked for the officer’s card.
The officer responded by taking out his handcuffs and indicated that he will just arrest the teen..
Gibson backed away, telling the officer that he is on video.
A second teenager appeared on the video, questioning why they are being stopped. As the camera panned around, it showed a lawnmower, care equipment and the business cards that the teens are using.
As the second teenager explained that they don’t understand why they are being questioned for mowing grass and putting out business cards, the officer said, “Put your hands down,” even though the video does not show either teen with their hands in the air.
At this point, the teens pointed out that they are clearly doing lawn care and told the officer that they believe they have been profiled for being young black males.
From behind the camera, Gibson explained that they are questioning the officer’s behavior, because they are concerned about it happening again to someone else, potentially resulting in someone getting hurt.
The teen returned home. However, officers soon came to his home and continued pressing him, claiming they need identification from Gibson.
At the end of the video, the teens included snapshots of injuries they claimed they received during a raid of their home that followed the incident.
Or, they were videotaping to protect themselves from having the shit beat out of them by racist cops who didn't like it when they questioned him. They had lawnmowing equipment, don't see many burglars running around with business cards and equipment. These kids were smart.
Now, if you have evidence they were casing houses, I will listen to it. Otherwise, you are a little eager to make assumptions.
Article says they were actually mowing lawns - if that is true, and I hope it is because it would be awesome to see the entrepreneurial spirit is still alive among the youth- then why didn’t the reporter [or the kids] produce and interview any satisfied customers?
Or is the reporter being misleading by starting off saying they were mowing when instead they were knocking on doors to see if anyone was home and had not mowed anyone’s lawn?
Were they knocking on doors to leave cards or just leaving cards tucked in doors?
The implication is that the cop harassed them because he’s racist, but maybe the cop was suspicious because no one’s yard had been mowed... or because they were only visiting houses without cars in the driveway that looked like no one was home. Or maybe the cop’s not racist but the homeowners are and called the cops because they were scared of blacks.
Lately in my part of Florida there have been cases of gangs going house to house offering services like asphalt repair, but what they are really doing is seeing who is home. I think here they’re hispanic or white. Had a guy stop here claiming he does driveway repair and offer his alleged employer’s card but after speaking with him it was clear he knew nothing about that kind of work and I caught him lying about his conversation with my neighbor. He was scouting.
I didn’t think it necessary to point out the exception of known neighbor kids. Girl Scout cookies get a pass, too.
So are they actually ‘mowing lawns’ or just knocking on doors to see who answers and have a business card for a cover story?
And an 8 year old girl should also have a permit to sell lemon aid............
Wow, you're one paranoid dude..........
You should see where I live. Seriously. LOL
“Police can ask for identification and it is not unreasonable.”
The problem is that when police ask someone for identification they’re not asking.
So where's the video, I couldn't find it at the site you posted..........
Police asking for identification may be reasonable but it is even more reasonable for someone to refuse to provide identification if there is no reasonable suspicion of a crime. Based upon the video there was no reasonable suspicion of a crime so the teenager had every right to refuse to provide it.
In the old days, yes we all made money raking, shoveling cutting yards and cleaning gutters, but due to overwhelming government regs, you can’t even have a small girl selling lemonade. It’s a fact. BUT, these guys aint kids, I live the county above Houston. We need a DBA, doing business as license. Granted each county is about 10 bucks but you must have it. I do HVAC, well actually retired but still carry my state license but I’m still required to be registered in each county I work.
Cops here can approach you on a job site and ask for required state and county licenses. I still carry them today even though I do free volunteer work for locals, friends and family.
Hey, I grew up as a yankee up north Philly style and we as youngsters could always find ways to find work, but sadly even where you live all those jobs are done by illegals.
At the end of the video, the teens included snapshots of injuries they
claimed they received during a raid of their home that followed the incident.
*************
Interesting close to the info. Injuries and a raid.....
But yeah, I didn't go burn down the neighborhood over it.
I used to live in that neighborhood, too.
Now I live in a free state where if you shoot such people the sheriff comes out afterwards and compliments you on how tight your grouping was.
FWIW there was a local scam where a man and woman with cleaning supplies in hand (buckets etc) knocked on doors and when someone was home, they just said that they have the wrong house. This has happened several times and there have also been some local burglaries of small items mostly jewelry.
Reported to the police and they say this is a common MO and they work a neighborhood for a few days then go to another area of town.
See my post above. Here in FL criminals have indeed used business cards when they scout neighborhoods, just in case the door they knock on is answered, they then have an excuse for knocking, so homeowners don’t get suspicious and they can go on to the next house after giving sales spiel. Any idiot can make a “biz” card and memorize a meaningless sales pitch. By the time someone calls- assuming anyone does at all- they’re long gone, so any random phone number will do. But meanwhile, they sooner or later find a home where no one answers and they do more than knock... they test the door to see if it’s locked.
If it’s not they slip in and head straight for the medicine cabinets, etc.
I don’t like getting up from my computer (couch, dinner table, toilet, etc.), going to the front door, and listening to some spiel for something I never requested. That doesn’t make me paranoid. Grumpy old geezer who walks with a cane and has neuropathy and a bum knee, maybe; paranoid, no.
And I’ll anticipate the next comment: Our HOA does not allow “No Soliciting” signs, as if that would stop anyone.
And if I could stop unsolicited phone calls by executing the callers, I’d be an even happier man.
This type of casing (looking like a legitimate business) to see who’s on vacation (particularly this time of year) is very common where I live.
I do know one thing regarding this case - if they were legitimate in what they were doing, they would have no reason to try to hide their identities.
Everyone is telling these kids to stay out of gangs and go at least mow lawns, yet when they do...
They might as well just go join the gang, either way their screwed.
So you live in an HOA neighborhood, I see where your problem is right thare!
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